Abstract
Protein, moisture, ash and lipids analysis, mineral and organic acids composition, ascorbic acid, and tocopherols of
Rumex vesicarius leaves grown in the central and northern regions of Saudi Arabia were determined. This wild edible plant is locally called hummayd. The protein value was 17.1–20.1
g/100
g, moisture was 87.8–93.5
g/100
g, ash was 14.6–19.6
g/100
g and lipids were 3.1–3.8
g/100
g. The concentration of the minerals ranged from 1790 to 3680
mg/100
g for calcium, 2.1–3.9
mg/100
g for copper, 24.1–42.5
mg/100
g for iron, 1320–2270
mg/100
g for magnesium, 2710–3230
mg/100
g for potassium, 846–1100
mg/100
g for sodium and 3.7–8.8
mg/100
g for zinc (atomic absorption spectrophotometer analysis). The range of organic acids was 277–307
mg/100
g for citric, 5530–5620
mg/100
g for malic and 2840–3260
mg/100
g for oxalic acid (HPLC analysis). The chemical composition of the leaves indicates that the hummayd is a good source of minerals, a moderate source of protein and ascorbic acid, is high in oxalic acid and low in lipids and tocopherol. The high acidity and lemony flavour suggest that hummayd may be useful in the formulation of acid foods.